Review Summary:

It is almost misleading to call this system a sound bar. With the wireless subwoofer and the rear speakers, the HT-RT5 offers so much more than most people would expect from a sound bar. You get real surround sound out of a system that is compact and easy to use and it has the power to bring a real cinema style experience to the home.

If you are looking for an upgrade to the sound on your TV, then the Sony HT-RT5 sound bar is a product that you have to look into. This system comes with two wireless rear speakers and a wireless subwoofer for a sound bar that delivers a true surround sound experience. Along with being a genuine surround sound system, this set comes loaded with features and functions, making this a sound bar that is hard to beat.

With this system, you get the full array of speakers for a true surround sound experience. First, you have the sound bar enclosure and then you have a set of rear speakers and a wireless subwoofer. This setup delivers powerful sound that has great depth and clarity.

For audio features, Sony equipped the HT-RT5 with features that match the quality of the speakers. This system comes with the Sony S-Master amplifier for a sound that is really impressive. Along with that, you also get Clear Audio Plus, 3D Sound and a range of presets for applications like listening to music, watching movies, sports and much more. In addition to that, it comes with an auto calibration system that uses a microphone to tests the acoustics in the room and it adjusts all of the audio settings to their optimal levels.

For a system that is so advanced, it is surprisingly easy to get set up. You have three HDMI inputs and one HDMI output for a convenient installation process. In addition that, you can also connect through the optical cable or through analog audio. Having all of these options is nice, but the best performance is going to come through using the HDMI connections. Most TVs do not have 5.1-channel pass through for the audio and that means that you will lose the true surround as the audio passes through the TV.

Along with hooking the sound to the TV, you will also have to pair the wireless speakers and subwoofer with the system. The speakers and the subwoofer connect easily, but since they are wireless, they will need their own power supply.

For additional features, this system also has Bluetooth with NFC, a USB port and the ability to be used as a multi-room system. With the Bluetooth, you can stream music from devices like a Smartphone, tablet or laptop. Devices connect easily through the NFC feature and if your device does not support NFC, you can still pair it with the system by using the Bluetooth menu.

If you want to turn this device into a multi-room audio system, you can buy the compatible wireless speakers from Sony and install them in locations around the home. Once you have the system set up, the entire thing can be controlled from any location by using the Sony Song Pal app.

Cons

• Since the speakers are wireless, the user will need to find a plug for each one. Fortunately, the system is pretty flexible about where the speakers can be placed, but it could be an issue for some buyers.